Mac and Windows operating systems, made by Apple and Microsoft respectively, are two different types of computer designs with their own strengths and weaknesses. If you are looking to purchase a computer for your business, it's helpful to know how the two operating systems differ to see which one would be appropriate for use by you and your employees. Many of their differences are purely cosmetic, but others are significant, including their built-in system tools, available applications, and overall usability.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Windows' trademark design is its Start menu, the globe with the Windows logo where all files, folders, and applications can be found. Mac OS has Finder, very much like Windows Explorer, and the Dock, a small strip of application icons at the bottom of the screen for easy access to your most-used programs, similar to the taskbar on the Windows desktop. This is mostly a cosmetic difference: two ways of accessing your files and applications. Windows also keeps its Start bar at the bottom (you can move it to the top or either side) while Apple has its menu bar at the top. The placement of the close, minimize, and maximize buttons are also reversed: Windows has its buttons on the top right while Mac OS has its buttons on the top left.

Software Availability

Windows has claim to much more software because it is more widely used than the Mac OS. Many software companies simply don't have the resources to develop for two different systems, so they choose the one with the most users. Many software companies do create versions of their products for the Mac OS, and other vendors create lookalike versions for the Mac, but the programs aren't always as functional or stable as their Windows counterparts.

Design

Apple computer parts are all built by and for a single manufacturer: Apple. Conversely, a Windows PC may use hardware from a dozen different manufacturers. Because of this, Macs tend to run a bit more smoothly since all the hardware components were made to work with each other and with nothing else. However, this also means that if a Windows computer needs a replacement part, it can be found from a variety of sources; if your Mac needs repair, you will typically need an Apple part (unless it is something like a hard drive or RAM).

Hardware and Replacements

Apple computers are rather resilient to change; on MacBooks especially, the case design leaves little room for opening up your computer and changing parts. Windows computers are more accessible, and hardware can be swapped out more easily. People who build their own computers prefer using Windows due to the simplicity of upgrading individual parts instead of buying a new computer. If this isn't a necessity, the simplicity of buying a custom-designed Mac from Apple's online store is a plus.

Security

Windows' popularity also harms it. Because Windows is more widely used, people who create viruses will often skip making them for Mac, choosing the broader Windows audience. Mac OS isn't necessarily more secure -- in fact, one security expert declared that Windows 7 was more secure than Mac OS X -- just less popular. When it comes down to which system is more secure, that tends to change depending on which version of each OS is out at the time, though both Apple and Microsoft constantly release updates to patch security holes. There are also significantly more antivirus and other security programs available for Windows; the repertoire of security software available for the Mac OS is small.

Price

Mac computers are almost infamous for their prices, which tend to be much higher than other computers of similar builds. Windows computers are anywhere from slightly cheaper than Macs to drastically less expensive, especially if you build your own Windows PC. Macs are nice to look at and function well, but for some users, they aren't worth their added price.

About the Author

Based in California, James Wright has been writing since 1998. Wright's articles have been published on various websites with a focus on technical fields such as computers and the Internet, and were also featured in a now-retired publication for an online artistic community. Wright studied English, journalism, politics and psychology at Riverside Community College.